And last season in the first team, a season in which King made his senior debut in the league and in the Asian Champions League, Talay was an assistant to head coach Steve Corica.

“I’d say Uffy was a tactical genius. You have to adapt tactically in the modern game,” King told FTBL.

“I’ve had Uffy as a head coach and an assistant coach at the AIS and he was great.

“When he was the head coach he was a bit more serious and not so much your ‘friend’, but again this year as an assistant coach at Sydney FC he was easy to talk to.”

Talay will have big coaching boots to fill after Mark Rudan’s departure for United.

But those in the know are convinced the man dubbed the best player to have never represented Australia at senior level will emerge with his reputation further enhanced.

And with Phoenix best youth players causing a sensation for New Zealand at the FIFA U20 World Cup, Talay’s experience with the Young Socceroos will be vital as he plots Phoenix’s rise to the finals once more.

Talay and the Fury fans in Townsville

The sensational Sarpreet Singh and Libby Cacace just two of the Phoenix young brigade who will be relieved to know Talay has this type of experience on his CV.

His experience as a 19-year-old player signing for a huge club in the hothouse of Turkish football - where he signed from NSL club Marconi to giants Galatasaray along with English league stars Dean Saunders and Brad Friedel - will stand him in good stead.

Talay’s playing resume spans the A-League, France and the Turkish Super League.